Symptomatic and asymptomatic shedding of campylobacter among rural school children in Alexandria

ABSTRACT

An epidemiological study involving 200 rural schoolchildren was conducted to estimate symptomatic and asymptomatic shedding of Campylobacter. Risk factors were identified as well. Stool samples were collected and cultured on Blaser's selective agar plates. Campylobacter was isolated from 11 [27.5%] of children with diarrhea and from 33 [13.8%] asymptomatic ones. The overall isolation rate was 16.5%. Presence of pets, farm animals and chicken at home were highly associated with Campylobacter culture positive cases [p <0.001]. The same association was encountered, but at a lower level, with drinking unsafe water or raw milk [p <0.05]. These data indicated that Campylobacter is present in schoolchildren whether symptomatic or asymptomatic. Persistence of risk factors presents a great burden for persistence of infection